A La Masia gem is called up for Barcelona ahead of El Clásico, boosting their squad for the showdown against Real Madrid.
The Blaugrana, aiming to overtake their arch-rivals at the top of La Liga, held their final training session on Saturday, leaning on their youth academy to fill gaps left by key absentees.
With Hansi Flick sidelined by suspension, Barcelona’s assistant staff are set to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, blending experience and emerging talent for this pivotal clash.
The player in question, Xavi Espart, emerged as a key figure in the latest training update.
The promising La Masia right-back was called up to first-team training again, continuing his integration since the October international break, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
Having featured in squad lists against Girona and Olympiacos, Espart’s inclusion provides vital defensive depth, especially with multiple stars unavailable.
His presence alongside academy regulars like Dro, Toni Fernández, and Jofre Torrents, as well as backup goalkeepers Diego Kochen and Eder Aller, underscores Barcelona’s reliance on their youth pipeline to navigate this high-stakes encounter.
The injury list is daunting, with Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Joan García, and Marc-André ter Stegen all ruled out, forcing Flick’s staff to trust in young talents.
Espart’s call-up highlights La Masia’s role in bolstering the squad, with the young defender potentially in line for a squad spot to cover the backline.
The expected lineup features Frenkie de Jong and Pedri anchoring midfield, with Fermín López, fresh off a hat-trick against Olympiacos, adding attacking flair.
This setup aims to dominate possession and exploit transitions against a Real Madrid side also grappling with injuries.
As Barcelona chases a defining victory, Espart’s rise signals their resilience and faith in youth.
With La Masia talents stepping up, the Blaugrana are poised to challenge Real Madrid’s home dominance in a thrilling El Clásico that could reshape the La Liga title race.
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